History

Shuttle-Mir Background - How "Phase 1" was Organized

Early in the Shuttle-Mir Program, "Working Groups," were created to prepare
the organizational and technical documentation, and to carry out the flight
plans.

These Working Groups consisted of experts from RSC Energia, NASA, RSA, Institute
for Biomedical Problems (IBMP), Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC), and
other organizations and companies.

This structure divided the mission planning and execution tasks into nine different
functions. Each nation designated a Co-Chair for each group, who was responsible
for that group's function. These Co-Chairs chaired joint meetings (usually weekly
via telecon, and occasionally face to face) and were authorized to sign protocols,
which documented agreements that were made within their function.

A list of the Working Groups, their areas of responsibility, and the names
of their Co-Chairs can be found at Working Groups Structure.